Olefin oligomerization process

A process of preparing alpha-olefin oligomer which comprises oligomerizing an oligomerizable olefin monomer with a catalyst system comprising a catalytic amount of boron trifluoride, a protic promoter employed in an oligomerization promoting amount, a modifier selected from the group consisting of tri-substituted organic phosphates, tri-substituted organic phosphine oxides and tri-substituted organic phosphine sulfides, at a temperature in the range of about 0.degree. to about 200.degree. C., and under an atmosphere comprising boron trifluoride at a pressure from about atmospheric to about 1000 psig wherein the olefin monomer is a C.sub.6 to C.sub.20 linear olefin comprising at least 50 mole % alpha olefin.

A process of preparing alpha-olefin oligomer which comprises oligomerizing linear olefin monomer comprising at least 50 mole % alpha olefin having in the range of 8 to 14 carbon atoms in the molecule with a catalyst system comprising a catalytic amount of boron trifluoride, a protic promoter employed in the range of about 1.0 mole % based on olefin monomer, and a modifier selected from the group consisting of organic phosphates, organic phosphine oxides, and organic phosphine sulfides, at a temperature in the range of about 30.degree. to about 150.degree. C., under an atmosphere comprising boron trifluoride at a pressure in the range of 5 psig to about 100 psig, and in proportions in the range of about 0.5 to about 2 moles of modifier per mole of promoter, to thereby form an oligomerization product mixture containing at least about 50 wt % of dimer.